Rev. Aaron J. Johnson – Chairman, Board of Directors

This is an exciting year for us. This year marks our 30th Anniversary. The entrance of the new millennium will bring about many changes. It was not long ago that many African Americans were unaware of their sickle cell status. Today thanks to Operation Sickle Cell, Inc., a wide range of services have been provided to sickle cell patients and their families, to include free testing. Our community is better informed today about sickle cell syndrome than they were yesterday. We acknowledge that we have made a lot of progress in the last thirty years. But while we have been successful, we are also mindful that change is coupled with challenges. Equity in quality health care and elimination of disparities in health will continue to be our top priorities. Operation Sickle Cell’s ultimate goal is to enhance the services that are provided to individuals with sickle cell disease.

The Chairman of the Board and staff wish to acknowledge the volunteers and financial support of the many business, churches, organizations and individuals who have enabled us to provide free services to our clients. We could not have met the challenges presented by sickle cell syndrome without the assistance we received from the total community. We are sincerely grateful for the generous support shown during 1995, and we intend to be worthy of it in the future. In addition, the General Assembly of North Carolina is to be commended for its support for sickle cell programming all over the state since 1973.